Maharashtra: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday flagged off metro trains marking the inauguration of services on completed sections of two corridors of Pune Metro Phase-I, while on a one-day visit to Maharashtra.

The sections between Phugewadi station to Civil Court station and Garware College station to Ruby Hall Clinic station have been completed as part of a major project in Pune.

Projects being launched today in Pune will boost infrastructure development and improve quality of life for the people. https://t.co/UNQrqQpxs3

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 1, 2023

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The foundation stone for this project was laid by the PM Modi in 2016. These new sections will serve as crucial connectors to significant locations within Pune city, including Shivaji Nagar, Civil Court, Pune Municipal Corporation office, Pune RTO, and Pune Railway Station.

During his visit, Prime Minister Modi also inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for various development projects at the Shivaji Nagar Police headquarters in Pune, further contributing to the city’s growth and progress.

Additionally, PM Modi inaugurated Rs 300 crore Waste to Energy Plant in Pune.

Addressing the gathering, PM Modi said, “Pune is a vibrant city that gives momentum to the economy of the country and fulfills the dreams of the youth of the entire country. Today’s projects with about 15 thousand crores will further strengthen this identity.”

Recalling the start of the Metro work five years ago, he said that the 24 km Metro network has already started functioning in this period.

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Informing about the importance of public transport, Modi said, “Public transport is the backbone of improving the quality of life of people living in every city.”

PM Modi stated that the Centre is working on the new metro line, new flyovers are being constructed, and emphasis is being laid on reducing the number of traffic lights.

“The country had only 250 km of metro network and most of the metro lines were limited to Delhi whereas today, the metro network has gone beyond 800 km and work is already underway for 1000 km of new metro lines in the country. Before 2014, the metro network was limited to only five cities in India whereas today, the metro is functional in 20 cities including Pune, Nagpur and Mumbai where the network is being expanded,” he said.

“The metro is becoming a new lifeline for the cities in modern India”, the Prime Minister remarked as he stressed the need for metro expansion to tackle climate change in a city like Pune.